The Scent of Despair
Written by Catrina Winner
Author's Note: You readers have my sincerest apologies for this chapter taking such a long time. School is just murderous and I've gotten better, only to get sick again… So, unfortunately, I don't have much energy and my homework load is crushing me, on top of extracurricular activities
Anyway, enough complaining! Please review this chapter, I'll work on the next one whenever I get a spare moment (which are few and far between) and remember – if you want to be on the mailing list, e-mail me at catwinner@earthlink.net and let me know!
Enjoy the chapter!
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Chapter Twenty-Five
The sunset was beautiful that evening. The sun glittered over the trees, playing from the leaves and the blades of grass. The sky was a bloody red, interspersed with purple and the lightest pinks. Clouds drifted swiftly through the area, the wind blowing them quickly away. Kagome stared out into the horizon, smiling a smile that never reached her eyes. She was leaning on a broom she had been using to sweep the porch before the sunset had distracted her attention.
Everything was perfect somewhere in that painted sky. Kagome sighed and put the broom away, turning her back on the perfection she felt she could never attain. The darkness inched over the land bit by bit, swallowing the warm sunlight as Kagome swung the door closed. Sota bounded up to her with a goofy look in his eyes, dressed in fuzzy pajamas and puppy slippers.
"Bedtime for you!" Kagome said, trying to sound cheerful. Sota frowned and nodded, sniffling and acting as if his world was coming to an end. Which, truly, it might have… Kagome sighed and shoved her brother towards the stairs. He went slowly and hesitated at every doorway, looking up at his older sister with pleading eyes. "No. Bedtime, now," she replied, keeping her own eyes averted from his begging face.
Sota finally inched into his room and halted, staring at the bed. "Kagome… What if the monster comes back tonight?" His young eyes scanned the area, falling on the closed window. The curtains were drawn halfway across the pane, letting in little glimpses of the darkening evening. Trees rustled and whispered to each other against the wind and the creeping shadows danced menacingly across the lawn.
Kagome smiled at him as best she could and scooped him into her arms, depositing him on the bed. "Silly Sota… Didn't you know that no monsters would want to come in here? I mean, mom and Grandpa are protecting us with all the other shrine guards. Plus, the well is sealed, there can't be any monsters left!" she tried a laugh, but Sota just continued staring at her with huge, wide eyes. "Oh, Sota, look… If any kind of "monster" comes anywhere near our house, you tell me and I'll take care of it. Nothing can stand against Kagome! Strongest girl in the world!" She struck a silly pose and Sota giggled, climbing into his bed. Kagome tucked him in and turned to leave.
"K-Kagome?" Sota's hesitant voice made her pause. "Have… I mean, have you tried the well… Since it, well, since it stopped working? I mean – how do you know it's broken? What if… What if it's not?! And-"
Kagome sighed, cutting her little brother off. "Sota… Sota, I can sense the well. Feel if it's open or not… So… I just… know. I know it's not open. And it's okay. As long as I have you," she hugged him and retreated to the doorway, "I don't need anyone from that time." She smiled and exited quietly, tiredly.
Sota stared at the closed door and hugged his fat cat. "Buyo, I wish the well was back open so Kagome could be with Inuyasha. I wish so bad…" Kagome, just outside his door, echoed his thoughts with another sigh before shipping herself off to bed.
Sota was unable to sleep that night, tossing and turning. The dark was soon complete, draping the home in its robe. Crickets chirped and stars sparkled, but Sota could not relax, could not sleep. He turned to the snoring cat.
"Buyo… What if the well isn't closed? What if sis is wrong? What if… What if we can go through and find Inuyasha and bring him here, and make her happy?" Sota sat up in his bed and stared into the dark. "I'm gonna do it!" the boy said, struggling out of bed.
Sota paused and picked up his Lego set. "Just in case," he told his now-awake cat. Buyo settled himself comfortably on the top of the container and seemed content to purr away.
Inching down the stairs, Sota found himself slightly afraid of the dark. But he forced the fear away. Dimly he spotted Kagome's backpack in the darkness of the hallway. Shrugging, he loaded himself up with the huge pack and turned towards the door. Buyo leaped off the Lego's and trotted delicately in front of the boy, mewling at the door. Sota shushed him and pulled open the front door, tip-toeing outside.
The darkness was heavy and the wind whispered through the trees. It was a bit of a menacing night for such a young boy. But, Sota was on a mission. He reached the well house in good time, swinging open its door.
Dropping both the pack and the Lego's into the well, he stared down. No glow, no flare of color, no demons roaring up at him, nothing. Just some dirt. The little boy sighed and kicked the dust around the well with his toes, scuffing the floor. Buyo rubbed up against his legs and Sota hugged him.
"Guess Kagome was right, huh, Buyo?" he said, quietly. Now the dark night was becoming overwhelming and he couldn't help but wish there was a flashlight or something nearby. Standing up, the boy was about halfway back to the house when Kagome rushed out, looking wild and terrified. She spotted him clutching Buyo and ran to his side.
"Sota! What in the world are you doing out here in the dark?!" she demanded.
"Buyo, um, got out," Sota mumbled. Which was slightly true. He had gotten out, right? Right?
Kagome shook her head and forced Sota back into the house. She tucked him back into bed and looked into his disappointed eyes. Sota rolled over and yawned widely. Suddenly, all his limbs were heavy and all he wanted was that elusive sleep. In her doggy pajama's, Kagome looked haggard and exhausted. Sota could tell she had been crying before she had found he was gone. He was going to say something to her, almost did, but his mouth wouldn't move, he couldn't force his hands upward, and sleep stole him away.
Kagome smiled down at his sleeping form, realizing how tired her own body was. But she had seen Sota walking from the well house and was very curious about his motives. She hardly believed his Buyo story. The cat wouldn't wander out at night unless he wasn't supposed to. And, frankly, Kagome would have just left him out there.
Creeping outside, flashlight in hand, Kagome made her way slowly to the well. Her feet seemed to have turned into heavy lead. Every step took an hour to her and the wind was whispering for her to go back, go home. She was almost halfway there when the wind seemed to shriek a warning, tossing her hair into the sky, pushing against her body.
A hand pressed against Kagome's lips, cutting off her scream. She had sensed someone running towards her, but hadn't had time to react. She was pressed against a warm, familiar body, but her mind was screaming, horrified. Her attacker pulled her into the woods near the well house. Kagome struggled, found herself unable to get free, and felt the blood rush to her head. She was scared. No parents, only a small brother left for protection, and he was asleep. The Jewel pulsed brightly around her neck.
She felt herself going downward and tried to break free again. A warm breath of air passed her ear, a whispered "shhh" and she froze. That voice – that voice, oh god! – sounded so familiar, something she had yearned for so long to hear again!
Turning slowly, as quickly as she dared, begging it to be true, praying her heart had not deceived her, Kagome looked at her attacker.
Inuyasha!
Inuyasha.
She couldn't move. Her body was paralyzed. He was here. Before her. Crouched, as he always sat, looking at her with concern and something more. Something so much more. His eyes were a deeper golden than usual, his hair longer, his clothing ragged. But he was here.
She couldn't hold herself back. Her entire body sang his name – Inuyasha was here with her! – and threw herself, sobbing, into his arms.
"You're here! You're really here!" she cried. Inuyasha tightened his grip on her and she dimly noted his claws were nearly dull and gone. But, it didn't matter. She had her Inuyasha and everything would be okay now. It had to be.
Inuyasha held her tightly, rocking her back and forth, and the tears of love, of joy, of all the years he had waited to hold her like this, escaped.
And the two held each other, lying on the grass, sobbing. And they were, finally, finally, together.
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Please review, thanks for sticking with this story for so long! It's almost done. And don't be too happy for them yet. The angst will not be left alone! Eheh. But, only four chapters remaining. Review, please, and I'll try to update soon! (Do I not sound like a broken record yet?)